REGION: Stone nominated for export council

RIVERSIDE ---- Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone of
Temecula has been nominated to represent Riverside County on a
regional council that encourages U.S. companies to export their
products overseas.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously
Tuesday to nominate Stone, who owns a pharmacy, to serve on a
30-member district export council for the U.S. Department of
Commerce's International Trade Administration.

"It's important because Riverside County is an international
trader," said Tom Freeman, the county's foreign trade commissioner.
"Having a businessman and a supervisor on that body is important.
It is something that will benefit the entire county."

Freeman said the county now ranks 23rd in the nation among urban
areas that export products.

Exporting firms account for $11.5 billion in economic activity
in Riverside County and 10 percent ---- or 90,000 ---- of its jobs,
he said.

Freeman said companies from 37 foreign countries have businesses
in the county.